Demi Lovato: Speak up for mental health

Demi Lovato is encouraging people to speak up about mental health for a new campaign.

Demi Lovato’s work with a new mental health awareness campaign is “very personal” to her.

The popstar has never shied away from the problems she’s suffered, including her battles with eating disorders, depression and self harm and her stint in rehab.

She’s now joined forces with five mental health organisations for campaign Be Vocal: Speak Up for Mental Health.

“[The issue] is very important to me because I have struggled with bipolar disorder for several years now,” Demi told People.

“Also my father had schizophrenia and bipolar disorder as well, and I watched him live a very unfortunate life because of the lack of access to treatment. So it’s very personal to me. I just think mental illness is something people need to learn more about and the stigma needs to be taken away from.”

Unfortunately Demi lost her father Patrick in 2013.

Demi was diagnosed with bipolar when she entered rehab in 2010. She’s credited her boyfriend Wilmer Valderrama with helping her get through tough times and is now encouraging others to be open about their own problems with doctors, friends and family.

“It’s also about speaking up for your community which is taking action, whether it’s writing a letter to Congress and telling them how this is affecting you and your life and how you would like to see mental health care more accessible in your community.

“There’s so many different ways you can help. I think together as a country we have to step up and we have to do something about this issue that is becoming quite an epidemic,” she said.

The 22-year-old reveals she’s had so much support from her fans while touring and also from others just speaking up.

Demi has also taken to her Instagram to thank President of Disney Music Group Ken Bunt and A&R exec Mio Vukovic for helping to create her new record label with Nick Jonas, Safehouse Records.

“So grateful for these two men who also helped make this happen.. Thank you for continually taking care of me as an artist but most importantly a person (sic),” she posted. Copyright: Cover Media 2015